SOUTH AFRICA: DURBAN: ZULU RALLY

(20 Aug 1995) English/Zulu/Natsound Police and security forces in Durban are on standby as thousands of Zulu supporters of South Africa's opposition Inkatha Freedom Party gather for a special rally called by Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Officials of President Nelson Mandela's ruling African National Congress have warned there will be violence. And Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini and his supporters will boycott the meeting: they claim it's unconstitutional. Supporters of Inkatha's Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi are supposed to gather for a so-called Imbizo or national meeting. The aim is to bind supporters to a Zulu covenant to distinguish them from Zulu supporters of the ANC. For Buthelezi, it is all part of a strategy to gain more autonomy for the province of Durban which Inkatha controls. But local ANC officials warn the planned meeting will lead to violence. SOUND BITE: "Definitely, whenever they have got this so-called imbizo, which actually is an IFP rally, people get killed, tensions rise and, of course, the flight of investors follows." SUPER CAPTION: Duminsane Makhaye, ANC provincial spokesman. Since the 1980s, thousands of people have died in inter-Zulu fighting. ANC and Inkatha supporters have clashed so often that it was feared the country would be plunged into civil war. Last year's all-race elections eased the tension. But, it has since risen with Inkatha's increasing calls for more autonomy for Durban. A split between Buthelezi and a vital former supporter, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini, has only added fuel to the fire. The King's recent lack of support lack for Buthelezi has been taken to mean that he has switched his allegiances to Mandela. SOUND BITE: "The King's position is clear on this. He rejects it and does not consider it as an imbizo because an imbizo will be a national gathering of all the people. Racial and cultural groups who will be convened at his instance and no other person can call an imbizo. What is happening here he views it as an IFP rally." SUPER CAPTION: Prince Sifiso Zulu. As a result, King Zwelithini is refusing to attend the imbizo. The split is being seen as a serious blow to Inkatha's finances. Many business leaders only gave their money to Inkatha because the party enjoyed the King's support. With less money to run Durban's government, Inkatha may risk losing its grip on outlying rural areas. For others, the split is also a serious blow to Inkatha's chances of winning the battle with the ANC. SOUND BITE: "Well, as a Zulu person, I do have a fear that the Zulu nation in fact will be wiped out by the ruling party in this country." SUPER CAPTION: Walter Ntsele, Inkatha Freedom Party official With local government elections due in November, rival parties are vying for more control of day-to-day affairs. Analysts predict that in the run-up, violence will threaten South Africa's fragile democratic system. The long-time struggle between the ANC and Inkatha looks set to deepen. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...